Sam Darcy:- Welcome to the Western Bulldogs

[hujsh]

Difference is Darcy is already a better kick.

As in set shot? Yeah nah not convinced on that yet. Danniher aint great necessarily but Darcy has missed some shockers IIRC. Time will tell though it's still early. Can't say his technique is reassuring as you watch him approach goal.

[Uninformed]

The young man is a Unicorn, Forward-Ruck is a hard position to play with not a lot of standout players capable of both roles so to have really good ruckcraft and be dangerous in the forward 50 is very rare.

And can play back as a bonus.

[Uninformed]

And he can go back.

Sorry. Just saw this. Great minds..

[Uninformed]

Great to get two Rising Stars in two week and hopefully Sanders isn't far away from getting a nod, you know there must be something special there with Sam Darcy when Leigh Matthews who very rarely has anything positive to say about the Bulldogs comes out and labels Sam the next big thing.

It's interesting that when drafted he was playing back but was always a forward ruck before that draft year and he also see's himself as a ruckman first then forward, i know i thought he was a forward who gave a chop out in the ruck as he looks so natural up forward but either way, he's a beauty.

Looking back to when Buddy and Roughy were dominating for the Hawks up forward and that final where they blew us out of the water especially at the G, wheres those two but especially Roughead would take the ball at the highest point and we had no answer for it, we didn't have that luxury in our forward line but with Sam now, that highest point is 208cm plus given his high reach, we even saw that on the weekend against two Cats players one being Tom Stewart both right in the contest but neither could get near him, it was just magnificent to see and will only get better.

That was such a great contested mark. Hardly ever see that these days.

[Uninformed]

Absolutely, it's both positioning and height which why i think he just looks a natural up forward, a lot of times height is grossly overrated because a 200cm plus spud is still a spud, but with Darce it gives him that massive advantage with that skillset and height with taking the ball at the highest point.

And his ability to hold position and still win a tap or a mark is amazing for his young and still slight frame.

[Bulldog Joe]

Difference is Darcy is already a better kick.

and I think smarter overall.

[Bulldog Joe]

As in set shot? Yeah nah not convinced on that yet. Danniher aint great necessarily but Darcy has missed some shockers IIRC. Time will tell though it's still early. Can't say his technique is reassuring as you watch him approach goal.

I am very much reassured by the fact that he has a consistent technique that improves the percentages in actually having a consistent result.

[Go_Dogs]

I know there was some commentary on his ruck work last weekend (which is going to be WIP for another few years I suspect) he was able to hold his own on most occasions and the upshot of his marking ability inside F50 is worth it.

He’s a rising star, no doubt.

[MrMahatma]

IIRC Rocket said in Darcy's draft year that while there isn't a perfect comparison, the player he could most liken Darcy to was Joe Danniher. I don't know if he's quite that agile but just being pretty agile as a 208cm ruck/forward is already huge.

Rocket also said Darcy would be a better player than Daniher.

[mighty_west]

and I think smarter overall.

Yeah anyone that sprays it as often as Daniher from long range and have other better options closer to goals then smile and laugh everytime he misses like he just can't believe it missed, i'm so glad i'm not a Brissy supporter.

[54Bulldog16]

When does the next Darcy father/son come through? Is he tracking to be anywhere near Sam’s ability?

[ledge]

Are we tracking to have the most father/sons in the last ten years ?

[jeemak]

Some comparisons for Sam against other young gun KPFs and a highly rated second ruck at the same age:

Ben King

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...&fid1=O&fid2=O

Darcy leads B. King in disposals, marks, tackles and hitouts, but is 0.1 behind in goals at 2.0 per game.

Max King

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...&fid1=O&fid2=O

A bit closer in disposals and marks, Darcy again leads in tackles and hitouts. M. King 0.1 goals a game behind him at 1.9

Aaron Naughton

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...&fid1=O&fid2=O

A difficult one to compare due to Naughton's ankle injury that year and COVID games being shorter. But it shows Darcy well ahead in all areas, outside of disposal efficiency. Below is the 2019 comparison.

Close on disposals, even on marks, Darcy ahead on tackles, Naughton averages 1.4 goals a game.

JUH

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...&fid1=O&fid2=O

Pretty close on disposals and marks with Darcy ahead on tackles and 0.5 more goals per game.

Luke Jackson

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...&fid1=O&fid2=O

Both play second ruck, and Jackson claims more disposals, tackles and hitouts, but lags behind Darcy by 1.5 goals a game.


No real point to any of this, I was just curious to see if we're getting ahead of ourselves in thinking he's a freak. Not sure I've seen anyone come into the game and be an awesome second ruck who hits the scoreboard, but Darcy is averaging 7.3 hitouts a game so is quickly getting there. No idea how far this lad can go.